by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 20, 2022 | Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Former Prime Minister and Ennahdha Leader Arrested Summary: On 19 December 2022, a judge ordered the arrest of former Tunisian Prime Minister and Ennahdha Party leader Ali Larayedh, linking him to an investigation into Ennahdha’s alleged sending of foreign...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 20, 2022 | Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Runoff Parliamentary Elections Set for 20 January Summary: On 19 December 2022, the Tunisian Independent High Authority for Elections announced that run-off elections will be held on 20 January. Runoffs were deemed necessary because only 21 candidates of...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 19, 2022 | Economic, Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: UGTT Ramps up Criticism Following Low Turnout for Elections Summary: Following the historically low voter turnout for the 17 December 2022 parliamentary elections, the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) has increased its criticism of the electoral...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 18, 2022 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: European Investment Bank Commits 220 Million in Loans Summary: On 18 December 2022, the European Investment Bank (EIB) committed to two loans to Tunisia totaling €220 million to help bolster the country’s food security and electrical infrastructure. The...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 18, 2022 | Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Low Voter Turnout Overshadows Parliamentary Elections Summary: On 17 December 2022, Tunisia held long-anticipated parliamentary elections. Voter turnout was widely reported at 8.8% with the final government tally revised upward to 11.2%, though the lack of...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 15, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Failure to Finalize Finance Law Delays IMF Loan Decision Summary: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has delayed the approval of Tunisia’s $1.9 billion loan deal due to the government failing to present a final 2023 finance law. The IMF Executive Board...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 15, 2022 | Diplomacy, Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Saied Rebuffs Critics at US-Africa Summit Summary: On 13-15 December, the United States hosted the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC. Tunisian President Kais Saied was in attendance, making multiple appearances, including with US Secretary of State...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 14, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Bread Subsidies to be Gradually Tapered Summary: A government plan has reportedly surfaced outlining the tapering of bread subsidies that have kept prices artificially low for decades. The plan includes a reduction in the number of bakeries producing...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 12, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Libya Set to Receive Tunisian Business Delegation in Late December Summary: On 11 December 2022, a team from the Tunisian Embassy to Libya met with Mohamed Raied, the leader of the General Union of Libyan Chambers of Commerce. The meeting included the...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 12, 2022 | Contingency
Phone Security: Diligence and Risk Management Smartphones are frequently stolen in Tunisia, both surreptitiously and through direct confrontation. Consider the following to avoid unnecessary risk: Avoid phone use in busy, public spaces Step into a store, bank, or...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 12, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Trade Deficit Hits Record Levels in November Summary: In November 2022, Tunisia’s trade deficit rose to record levels as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s ongoing financial crisis further stressed the economy. The overall trade deficit...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 11, 2022 | Economic, Social, Tunisia
Tunisia: Medicine Shortage Exasperated by Wholesale Distributor Strike Summary: On 5 December 2022, the Union of Wholesale Medicine Suppliers announced a labor strike. The strike was called to protest the government’s failure to respond to demands to reduce the tax...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 10, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Indian Firm Wins Bid for Sfax-Sousse Electricity Transmission Line Summary: In early December 2022, Indian firm Larsen & Toubro and the Société Tunisienne de l’Electricité et du Gaz (STEG) announced plans to reinforce the high-voltage electricity...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 10, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Multiple Energy Projects Announced Summary: Recently, multiple large-scale power projects were announced in Tunisia. The European Union plans to invest over €300 million in an undersea high voltage electricity cable, called ELMED. Emirati energy firm AMEA...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 10, 2022 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Economic Mission Announces Multiple Initiatives with Abidjan Summary: During an early December 2022 economic mission in Cote d’Ivoire, representatives from a Tunisian business interest group, CONECT (Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises), signed a...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 9, 2022 | Diplomacy, Tunisia
Tunisia: President Saied Courts US, Chinese Leaders Summary: On 7 December 2022, a delegation from the US National Security Council visited Tunis to meet with President Kais Saied and other key leaders. The meetings touched on security cooperation, but also...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 9, 2022 | Diplomacy, Tunisia
Tunisia: Tunis Courts Algiers as Distance Grows with Rabat Summary: During a summit held last week in Algiers, Tunisia and Algeria signed an agreement to help boost cooperation on startups. The agreement, signed by Tunisian’s Minister of Communication Technologies...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 7, 2022 | Security, Tunisia
Tunisia: Government Announces Sfax Terror Attack Disrupted Summary: On 7 December 2022, the Tunisian government announced that a terror plot had been successfully disrupted in Sfax. The plot reportedly targeted a security unit and a religious institution. The...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 3, 2022 | Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: UGTT Leader Denounces Election Process and President’s Reforms Summary: On Saturday, 3 December 2022, UGTT leader Noureddine Taboubi denounced the upcoming elections and formally aligned the powerful union against President Kais Said and his reform process....
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 2, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Fitch Upgrades Default Rating, Warns of Inflation Summary: On Thursday, 1 December 2022, Fitch Ratings released a comprehensive report, noting an overall upgrade from CCC to CCC+ for Tunisia’s Long-Term Foreign Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR). The...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Dec 2, 2022 | Diplomacy, Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Ties Continue to Warm with Pakistan; Free Trade Agreement Drafted Summary: Over the past year, ties between Tunisia and Pakistan have continued to warm, with rumors of a free trade agreement (FTA) growing. This week, Tunisia’s Ambassador to Pakistan,...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Nov 30, 2022 | Diplomacy, Tunisia
Tunisia: Libyan PM Visits Tunis for Working Meetings Summary: On Wednesday, 30 November 2022, the Libyan Prime Minister visited Tunisia to discuss economic, political, and security cooperation with President Kais Saied. The visit by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Nov 29, 2022 | Diplomacy, Tunisia
Tunisia: PM Bouden Discusses Security in Algiers Summary: On Monday, 28 November 2022, Tunisian Prime Minister Najla Bouden held unannounced meetings with her counterpart in Algiers. Bouden’s meetings with Algerian Prime Minister Aymen bin Abdel Rahman were...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Nov 26, 2022 | Political, Tunisia
Tunisia: Parliamentary Election Campaign Season Launches Summary: On Friday, 26 November 2022, the campaign season for the upcoming parliamentary elections officially launched across Tunisia. The campaigns will be permitted to continue until 15 December, two days...
by Dispatch Risk Analysis | Nov 26, 2022 | Economic, Tunisia
Tunisia: Challenging Environment for Non-Bank Financial Institutions Summary: Fitch Ratings released a report highlighting the challenging domestic market faced by non-bank financial institutions (NBFI). NBFIs are financial institution that do not have a full...
